Brands
Honor India gets smarter with AI-powered support
MUMBAI: Honor India is putting the “smart” back into smartphones with its latest move, becoming the first smartphone brand in the country to integrate the Uttik AI Answer Engine. The innovation redefines how customer support works, transforming it from reactive to real-time.
For a generation that turns to AI for every answer, Honor is now meeting its customers where they are, across platforms like Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. The system, powered by PSAV Global, ensures that queries about Honor devices receive instant, accurate and contextual responses, eliminating long wait times and confusion.
“We listened carefully to our customers and recognised they were facing frustration when seeking answers about our products,” said PSAV Global (official partner for Honor Smartphones) CEO C.P. Khandelwal. “The implementation of the AI Answer Engine demonstrates our ability to unite empathy and intelligence, creating long-term trust through smarter engagement.”
The results have been nothing short of transformative. Response times have dropped from three days to under five minutes, while self-service success has climbed dramatically. Troubleshooting that once took hours now happens in minutes, supported by multilingual accessibility for India’s diverse users.
The system’s impact goes beyond efficiency. Real customers are praising Honor’s fast, transparent and proactive service. Many cite quick repairs and replacements that have turned frustrating issues into positive experiences, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for reliability.
The AI-driven platform continuously learns from each interaction, refining responses and even predicting potential issues before they escalate. With real-time sentiment monitoring and predictive analytics, Honor has turned data into empathy, anticipating needs before customers have to ask.
By combining innovation with intuition, Honor India’s partnership with Uttik has not just upgraded its customer support, it has rewritten the playbook on how technology can build trust, loyalty and delight in a digital-first world.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
